Being an occupational therapist with VHA can be a challenging and rewarding career. When you join our team you are committing to the task of providing the best rehabilitation services possible for our Veterans. We will dive into the sorts of things you will do every day and see over the course of your career.
Things you’ll do every day
The everyday tasks of OTs at VHA are similar to most other OT positions. One big difference though, is the nature and cause of the injuries patients are recuperating from. Some of these Veterans will need to recover some basic abilities like opening jars, working around the house or how to use tools, and caring for elderly patients. But VHA OTs also often see conditions unique to our patient population and their former work environments: coping with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and amputations, hearing and balance issues, overcoming multiple injuries (polytrauma) and numerous other effects of deployment. We have developed unique programs and equipment for Veterans to use to accomplish common tasks no matter what injuries they may have.
The larger picture of a VHA OT career
A lot of people get caught up in the day-to-day activities of their career and lose track of why they are doing what they are doing. At VHA, you never lose that sense of purpose. Throughout your career the ultimate goal of your work every day will be to help our Nation’s heroes transition completely back into civilian life. This means not only physical healing but emotional and mental healing that you can encourage simply by interacting with and caring about the Veterans you work with. We have a commitment to the Veterans that we serve, and that means helping them heal physically, mentally and emotionally.
When you join VA as an occupational therapist, you’ll have the opportunity to see our Veterans heal in every facet of their life. Search our career opportunities to find the occupational therapy job that is right for you and Join VA.
Five reasons to drop everything and apply for a VHA occupational therapy job
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